Weighing the Pros and Cons of Slate, Marble, or Granite

It is popularly said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. A kitchen or bathroom brimming with natural stone tiles or countertops is unquestionably the type of beauty that will catch your eye, and even others'. Imagine carrying out personal hygiene routines in the beauty of a marble bathroom, or cooking up a scrumptious meal on a granite countertop.

In Ottawa, Canada, a lot of its residents can afford to splurge on attractive bathrooms or kitchens for their properties. This is highly associated with Ottawa's high quality of living-the second highest within the Americas and the 14th highest worldwide, according to the Mercer consulting firm. If you are living in Ottawa, you are in the city with the third highest income level in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, so you don’t need to stress about beautifying your own home.

Should you want to get a kitchen or bathroom with tiles or countertops made of the best possible yet most captivating natural stone material, the most popular ones are slate, granite, and marble. That leaves you the challenge of figuring out which material to utilize. To completely understand these materials, here are some specifics about them.

Granite tiles and countertops are often preferred because they're by far the most resilient amongst the three. They are also the simplest to wash, common soap or detergent will do. Closing granite tiles every once in awhile is necessary to protect them from forming unsightly stains and taking in liquids. Granite is higher in price than marble and slate.

Ottawa granite and marble tiles that firms offer are usually recommended for use in kitchen areas to withstand high temperatures. They are also commonly chosen for bathrooms as they are waterproof. A catch with marble tiles is they're softer than granite, making them more vulnerable to stains and scratches in high traffic locations that frequently require proper maintenance.

Because slate offers substantial color variations, they usually grant the most distinct look to many individuals. They're also arguably the lowest priced countertop—almost at par with an Ottawa granite variant—material among the three, especially if put in as the former. Slate is more durable than marble yet softer than granite, but they need to be correctly sealed after being put in.

So all in all, each material has its specific good and bad points. It definitely depends on you to decide on which to invest on that is resilient yet appealing. Continue reading about tiles and countertops made of granite Ottawa residents prefer at About.com and EzineMark.com.

Robbie Marinero - About Author:If you have questions, please visit us at TNTGranite.ca for complete details and answers.